Pharmacies must meet WHO standards: health officials

27 Oct 2007 - All Vietnamese pharmacies will have to comply with World Heath Organization standards by 2010, according to health agencies.

Addressing a conference held on Thursday in Ho Chi Minh City, deputy director of the city’s Health Department Pham Khanh Phong Lan said the agency planned to apply the WHO’s Good Pharmacy Practices (GPP) standards in local pharmacies.

By 2010, all drug stores in Vietnam will have to satisfy GPP standards to obtain business permits, announced the Health Ministry and the Drug Administration of Vietnam.

The GPP standards specify storage and distribution procedures for medicinal products and requite that a professionally trained pharmacist be on duty at all times.

Most Vietnamese simply explain their ailments to pharmaceutical vendors – most of whom are not licensed pharmacists – and take whatever they are given without consulting a qualified doctor or druggist.

There are over 4,000 private pharmacies in HCMC, most of which were ill equipped, without pharmacists, and tend to employ predatory business practices, according a Heath Department survey.

Delegates, including pharmacists and businesses, expressed concerns that it would be hard to change locals' routine.

Additionally, applying GPP standards might be too expensive for most mom-and-pop operations.

Although the sale of drugs without a prescription is illegal in Vietnam, over 99 percent of pharmacies sell prescription level medicine over the counter, according to domestic health agencies.

Deputy Minister of Health Cao Minh Quang said the ministry and other relevant agencies would scrutinize doctors and pharmaceutical distributors from now on.

Reports by the health departments in Hanoi and HCMC revealed many businesses have already registered to open GPP pharmacies.

Health agencies will assess conditions at such operations before granting permits.

To date Vietnam only has four GPP-standard drug stores, two in Hanoi and two in HCMC.

Vietnam is home to over 57,000 drugstores.

Only four of Vietnam's 57,000 pharmacies meet guidelines set by the international health watchdog.

About the Author

By Thanh Tung
From Thanh Nien News